Providing a perfect accompaniment to the wintry weather, all that was missing from the PSU Guitar Ensemble’s performance on Tuesday was a cup of hot cocoa and a roaring fire.
Whether plucking, strumming or drumming, the members of the ensemble, Jeremy Morse, Mike Plourde, George Koenig, Bob Davis and Ed McCarron, with Professor Jim Alba brought an unmistakable passion and talent to the audience in Smith Recital Hall.
The ensemble left the bells and whistles of more elaborate performances behind in favor of simply displaying their pure talent to the stage. Dressed in casual attire, the group was clearly all about the music and the result was great.
The combination of players fluctuated between each song. They began as a group, playing the wintry “Snowflake Waltz,” and went on to perform in quartet, duet and solo, coming together again for several tunes near the middle of the performance and again to close the show.
Their choice of material was very diverse but flowed together to form one whole performance without a catch. Whether fast or slow, quiet or loud, jazz, waltz or classic, the ensemble made the pieces their own and brought them to life.
The electric guitar, played by Mike Plourde, gave an extra spice to several of the night’s pieces, but its acoustic counterparts also brought snap in many instances. The players passed the lead around to showcase each member’s talent.
Professor Jim Alba, who also played with the group on several pieces, describes the ensemble music choices as “a mix of jazz and classical and sometimes original pieces.” He also commented on the versatility of the guitar, saying “it crosses genres from flamenco, rock, blues, indie.”
The audience certainly approved of the group’s sound. “I’ve never been to one before,” said Jessica Olson, a sophomore majoring in childhood studies. “I liked the sound. It was kind of cute. It kind of felt like I was sitting around a campfire.”
“It went really well,” said performer Jeremy Morse. “I’m really excited.”
This group and their like could certainly be a boon to open-mic nights and other such events. Though they are perhaps not the standard fare, their passion for performing and other performers like them may be just the thing to bring the much-needed variety that open-mic night patrons have been asking for.
The PSU Guitar Ensemble will be performing on an unknown date in the spring. It will most certainly be a performance worth attending. Bring your cocoa!